Turning bolt lever action rifle



W. A. R. BRADLEY Sept. 4, 1956 Filed July 28, 1953 1 R/VEYS IN V EN TOR.

w. A. R. BRADLEY 2,761,234

5 Sheds-Sheet 2 on no 3 vs TURNING BOLT LEVER ACTION RIFLE Sept. '4, 1956 Filed July 28, 195:

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Sept. 4, 1956 w. A. R. BRADLEY 34 TURNING BOLT LEVER ACTION RIFLE Filed July 28, 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 H o M. L s N |U M. w m 2 A A v m M wvx MN m w m w mux ..U vnfi 0N %I m9 M I ymd K m QQ\ W 0 N5 W I w we QW MM BIHU I Sept. 4, 1956 I w. A. R. BRADLEY 2,751,234

7 TURNING BOLT LEVER ACTION RIFLE Filed July 28, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 v INVENTOR. I43

ALB'Ii' ER A- 2. BRADLEY W. A. R. BRADLEY TURNING BOLT LEVER ACTION RIFLE Sept. 4, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed July 28, 1953 INVENTOR.

WALTER A R BRADLEY %FMM)@WWZIUMWZ TURNING BOLT LEVER ACTION RIFLE I Walter A. R. Bradley, John Day, Oreg. Application July 28, 1953, Serial No. 370,690

2 Claims. (CI. 42-16) This invention relates to a turning bolt lever action rifle.

' Firearms of the bolt action type normally require operation of the bolt by the right hand and consequently are unhandy for use by left-handed persons, resulting in slower operation when repeating firearms are employed and frequently require the shifting of the gun from one hand to the other when operating the bolt.

The primary object of this invention is to combine with a firearm employing a bolt, a lever action capable of turning the bolt to lock and unlock it and at the same time shifting it longitudinally in the receiver for the introduction of the shells to be discharged and removing the empty shells.

Another object is to shift and lock and unlock the bolt by a single movement of the lever in a forward and backward direction relative to the firearm.

*Still another object is to lock the hammer against release by the trigger during the period during which the bolt is shifted longitudinally in the receiver.

The above and other objects may be attained by employing this invention which embodies among its features a firearm of the type having a receiver having a bore extending longitudinally therethrough, a carriage mounted inthe bore to move longitudinally therein, a bolt mounted in'th'e carriage to move longitudinally therewith and to rotate about the longitudinal axis thereof, locking lugs carried by the bolt for engaging the receiver upon rotation of the bolt in one direction and locking the bolt against longitudinal movement relative to the receiver, means carried by the receiver and operatively connected to the carriage for moving it longitudinally in the receiver and means carried by the carriage moving means and engageable with the bolt for rotating the bolt and engaging or disengaging the receiver by the locking lugs.

Other features include a cartridge firing hammer carried by the receiver for movement in an arcuate path which intersets the rectilinear path which the bolt moves, a latch carried by the receiver and engaging the hammer for locking it out of the rectilinear path while the bolt is capable of being moved longitudinally in the receiver, and means carried by the carriage moving means for engaging the latch and releasing it after the bolt has been rotated and locked against longitudinal movement relative to the receiver.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary side view of a firearm embodying the features of this invention, portions being broken away more clearly to illustrate certain details of construction;

Figure 2 is a top plan View of the firearm illustrated in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary longitudinal perspective view taken substantially on the line 3-3 of'Figure 2 but showing the hammer in the shell discharged position;

Figure 4 is a View similar to Figure 3, showing the parts in open position after the ejection of the discharged shell from the receiver;

Patented Sept. 4, 1956 Figure 5 is a fragmentary view partially in section showing the position of the parts preparatory to the discharge of the shell;

Figure 6 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially on the line 6-6 of Figure 3;

Figure 7 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on the line 7-7 of Figure 3;

Figure 8 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on the line 8-8 of Figure 3 Figure 9 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view on an enlarged scale taken substantially on the line 9-9 of Figure 3;

Figure 10 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view taken substantially on the line 10-10 of Figure 3;

Figure 11 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on the line 11-11 of Figure 4; and

Figure -12 is a fragmentary exploded perspective view of the bolt and bolt carriage.

Referring to the drawings in detail, a firearm designated generally 10 comprises a stock 12 upon which is mounted a receiver designated generally 14 carrying a conventional barrel 16.

The receiver 14 comprises an elongated body 18 having a longitudinal bore 20 extending therethrough which opens at one end into an enlarged chamber 22 into which is threaded the barrel 16. The receiver is provided intermediate its ends with a recess which opens upwardly and to one side thereof and communicates at opposite ends with the bore 20, and opening through the bottom side of the receiver is an opening 24 through which cartridges C enter the receiver froma conventional magazine 26. The magazine is provided with a conventional follower 23 mounted on a conventional spring 30 which bears on the bottom of the magazine and urges the follower 23 upwardly in the magazine in a conventional manner. As illustrated, the wall 32 of the opening 24 adjacent the barrel 16 inclines upwardly to form a guide for directing the nose of a cartridge into the bore 34 in the barrel. The back wall of the magazine 26 is provided with a notch 36 which opens upwardly through the top thereof and communicates with the bore 20 of the receiver and communicating with the notch 36 is a notch 38 in the receiver which cooperates with the notch 36 in accommodating the ejector to be more fully hereinafter described.

Formed in the receiver 14 and extending outwardly from opposite sides of the bore 20 are guideways 4i) and mounted for longitudinal sliding movement on the guideways in alignment with the bore 20 is a carriage designated generally 42. This carriage comprises a ring 44 which aligns axially with the bore 2!) and is provided adjacent one side with a slide member 46 having a recess 48 opening thereinto, the axis of which lies radial to the axis of the ring 44 and carried by the ring 44 diametrically opposite the recess 48 is a head 50 which is separated from the ring by a nesk 52, and the ring is split as at 5- 1 for a purpose to be more fully hereinafter described. The slide member designated generally 56 comprises an elongated body 58 carrying adjacent opposite ends angularly extending lugs 60 and 613 which are adapted to lie against the side of the bolt to be more fully hereinafter described and formed intermediate the ends of the body is an attaching lug 62 having an elongated substantially dovetailed slot 64 opening through the side thereof for the reception of the head 50 by means of which the carriage elements 42 and 56 are coupled together, as will be readily understood upon reference to Figure 9.

Mounted in the ring 44 for rotation about the longitudinal axis thereof is a bolt 66 having an annular groove 68 therein in which the ring 44 is received so'that while the bolt may rotate about its longitudinal axis, the bolt 66 and carriage 42 will move simultaneously along the longitudinal axis of the bolt. -As illustrated, the bolt 66 4 the link .t'ully: elevated :moves against: the. finger; 124 .to I I disengage the; lug @120} fro I I he notch 1161 and; release 1 I I the hammer for-firing by: pnliing the trigger 110. Carried I I by: the, bolt 66 and extending outwardly therefrom gar; 1 f i jacent the end thereof remote from the. locking lugs 84 l I and -86 fare: circumferentiaily spaced teeth 144, and; carwh ch one: I I I I .riejd byithe arm 3136: oi'the le'ver 134 and projectingpe :while the OPPQ ne end of. the spring bears on I the pin; 1 pendicnlarly therefrom is a toothed finger 146 ZWhjichQ as'; I 72 to hold the pin 74 r'etracted. "As shown in Figure :12, I the bolt is: moved longitudinallytoward the barrel .16 so i the bolt: 66 S P vided adjacentone end with an: annular that ,the Ecartridge 0 carried by the bolt enters the bore Z i I groove 82 for the reception 0? the in}; at T carried by} :34 in thebarrel 3.6; will engage the teeth 1,44 and rotate. the slide; member 256 when the I parts are assembled in I 3 in the carriage: to cause the jlocking lugs 84 and; 8610. order -to =loel the hea d '50; in: the groove and iagainst Q I ;movel arcuaitely within the chamber 22 and; engage the longitudinal movement relative to l the siid e rne'mher :58.- w alli thereof remoteifrom the ;barrei 16 to; lock the belt- CartteId by {the bolt 66 adjacent the groove 82 and ex I against longitudinalmovement-in the receiver, i 1 i wider! with an axial bore 70 tor the: reception of: I

I f I i a firing pin 72 which is previded adjacent one end with;

njpil l' U4 I 1 1 i a longitndinally x mine cartridge capns xi whichwhenthejfirir tr uek bythei harrrr I firearm is: projected a bore =76 in the which? defines with the bore '70 a shoulder 78' against end of a compression 1 coil spring a 8!! bears,

I II I I I I I I I I I I h n je he b lt a ti e 'n t t c r y ng h k ns pro ect lateraily from the bolt: in diamjetn'eall I I I gs l 86 is provided iwIith= I I 148 I for' aecomm opposite relat on} Carried Iby-themg 86 and; extending I I dating :the cartridge gsh I I I ejector 150 which; projec y nd the gr ove end: at h b 1s n 1 .through the? slots. 36 and 1 3B previously? wanes":

outwardly 943 (rigs; 5 an I6) whi h make time municates' 'w ithf the; bore and extending 'thro I insi tent j directly t I I I I I I I I therein is Ith eI firing iham'merg :1045 having; :convjen tionai f I my? ext nding hook as w'h I d I end '05 the carttid ciua'te guide! 90 i a 1: ',t the} end of, the be I a i d bt" fi i g a n? I I I I I .re'metefr I ivetally mounted I as: at: 102

eneath t notches 106 which are adapted to be engaged by the sear 108 carried by a trigger 110 which is pivotally mounted at 112 in the receiver. A conventional spring 114 is carried by the receiver and is connected to the trigger and to the hammer for actuating them in a conventional manner. As shown, the hammer, when the trigger 110 is pulled, moves upwardly under the influence of the spring 114 and strikes the head 100 of the firing pin 72 to drive the pin 74 forward and into the firing cap of the cartridge C. In order to lock the hammer against movement under the influence of the spring 114 during the period that the bolt 66 is capable of moving longitudinally relative to the receiver, the hammer is provided with a notch 116, and carried by the receiver is a latch member 118 carrying a locking lug 120 which is urged into the path of movement of the notch 116 of the hammer 104 under the influence of a spring 122 and held in contact with the wall of the notch by said spring until a finger 124 carried by the latch 118 is engaged in a manner to be more fully hereinafter described by a releasing finger and moved against the eflort of spring 122 to withdraw the lug 120 from the notch 116 of the hammer 104.

Pivotally connected as at 126 to the frame of the receiver 14 below the latch 118 is a link 128 having an opening 130 extending therethrough for accommodating the trigger 110, and pivotally connected at 132 to the link 128 remote from the pivot 126 thereof is a lever designated generally 134 carrying an arm 136 having adjacent its end remote from the pivot 132 a lug 138 which is received in the recess 48 in the ring 44 and the carriage 42. The lever 134 is provided with a handle 140 which corresponds to the conventional handle of a conventional lever action gun.

Carried by the link 128 and extending outwardly therefrom is a releasing finger 142 which, as illustrated inFigure 5, when the lever is in its closed position and gch :is: adapted; to engage. I i C 3 and coopeiate I vement of the firing pin in the bore f I adjacent: that carr i g thelugs 854: I

= Ewing to the slanted wall .ef :tli;SIOi; or groove 148,

- I ot the? ejector 2150; to yieldingly: urge it upwardly into the; I path: of movement otthe bolt, I I I I I P ling 30 to movei the the: iower:face= of; the: adjacent Iguidew'ayttt) so that} the rim of u e cartridge will h b l -5 j and rnove it toward 'the barrel 116 :With the nose of t ear end of the bore 20 j hf the la e 134 rearwardlytoward the gumstockiIZ W' I cause the flange of the I will be evident that the? bolt :rnay he slid long; I the here 20 and: when thebolt isiprojecjt jd 'wi r the barrel, ;the ejector; "ll 1b dinaily i spring carrier 15.4 as icjtionaiiy engages the sid I the magazine, the y; under the influence of,

I In ujsej with :ear r=1d I t topmost cartridge toward I n 24 Ewithg the? .to m e t; cartridge stopping against i t theipa h: of; s j i l Upon projecting-the boltj forwardly; 5th

and? end thereotwiil engagegthe rear; end of the cartrid tied by the wall 32 into the bore. 3 I Ih6td2lj1 of the bolt by moverne I cartridge to' be engaged by' tl hooks 88 and 92 and held against the forward nose of the bolt while within the bore 84 of the barrel 16. As the bolt reaches its forward limit of movement, the toothed finger 146 carried by the lever 36 will engage the teeth 144 of the bolt 66 and cause it to rotate so that the locking lugs 84 and 86 will engage thewall of the chamber 22 of the receiver remote from the barrel 16 to lock the bolt in its projected position. Simultaneously with the rotation of the bolt, the finger 142 on the lever 128 engages the releasing finger 124 of the latch 118 to move the latch against the effort of the spring 122 and extract the lug 120 from the recess 116 of the hammer 104 so as to place the hammer under control of the trigger 110. Obviously, upon pulling the trigger, the sear 108 will be moved from engagement with a notch 106 in the hammer 104 and the hammer will move under the influence of the spring 114 to engage the head of the firing pin 100 and drive the firing pin forwardly to discharge the cartridge lodged in the bore 34 of the barrel 16. Upon the discharge of the cartridge, the lever 134 is moved away from the stock and toward the forward end of the gun with the result that the releasing finger 142 is disengaged from the finger 124 of the latch 118 and as the lever 134 is moved to retract the bolt 66 from the barrel 16, the hammer 104 will be engaged by the bolt and moved beyond cocked position under the influence thereof so that the lug 120 of the latch 118 will be moved under the influence of the spring 122 into the notch 116 and the hammer 104 to lock the hammer against movement under the influence of the spring 114. Obviously, the initial movement of the lever 134 away from the stock 12 will cause the toothed finger 146 to engage the teeth 144 and rotate the bolt 66 in a direction to disengage the locking lugs 84 and 86 from the receiver that permit them to ride along the guideways 40 as the bolt is re-- tracted. As the bolt approaches retracted position, the ejector 150 moves upwardly under the influence of the spring 152 and engages the flanged end of the discharged cartridge shell to throw the shell out of the receiver and clear the way for the movement of a fresh cartridge from the magazine into position to be engaged by the bolt and injected into the bore of the barrel 16.

By thus constructing the gun the advantages of a bolt action firearm are combined with those of a lever action firearm and the speed of firing is controlled solely by the speed at which the lever 34 may be operated. At the same time no possibility of premature discharge of the gun is experienced owing to the fact that the hammer is locked beyond its cocked position during the entire period that the bolt is free to be moved longitudinally in the receiver.

While in the foregoing there has been shown and described the preferred embodiment of this invention, it is to be understood that minor changes in the details of construction, combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed is: v

1. In a firearm, a receiver having a bore extending longitudinally therethrough, a carriage mounted in the bore to move longitudinally therein, a bolt mounted in the carriage to move longitudinally therewith and to retate about the longitudinal aXis thereof, locking lugs carried by the bolt and extending outwardly therefrom for engaging the receiver upon rotation of the bolt in one direction and locking the bolt against longitudinal movement relative to the receiver, a lever carried by the receiver for movement in a path which intersects the axis of the bore and operatively connected with the carriage for moving it longitudinally in the bore, circnmferentially spaced teeth carried by the bolt and extending laterally outwardly therefrom, and a toothed finger integral with the lever and extending upwardly therefrom for engaging the teeth on the bolt and rotating it to move the locking lugs into and out of locking engagement with the receiver.

2. In a firearm a receiver having a bore extending longitudinally therethrough, a carriage mounted in the receiver to move in a rectilinear path, a bolt mounted in the carriage to rotate about the longitudinal axis of the bore, a link carried by the receiver to move in an arcu ate path about an axis which lies perpendicular to the rectilinear path, a lever pivotally carried by the link and connected to the carriage for moving the carriage in the rectilinear path, locking lugs carried by the bolt and extending outwardly therefrom for engaging the receiver and locking the bolt in the receiver, circumferentially spaced teeth carried by the bolt and extending outwardly therefrom, and a toothed finger integral with the lever and projecting outwardly therefrom adjacent its pivotal connection to the link for engaging the teeth on the bolt and rotating it to move the locking lugs into or out of locking engagement with the receiver.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 415,509 Herrmann Nov. 19, 1889 463,225 Burgess Nov. 17, 1891 1,520,515 Storer Dec. 23, 1924 2,386,543 Collins Oct. 9, 1945 2,484,694 Dicke Oct. 11, 1949 

